novelnext Chapter 1415 It’s agreed
Chapter 1415 It’s agreed
Chapter 1415 It’s agreed
"...a long, damp life."
Chi Jingyuan looked at the wine glass in his hand, his voice low and hoarse, filled with emotion.
Jonghyun's departure was indeed like a sudden downpour, leaving people feeling devastated. Perhaps for Sulli, this sadness will fade with time, just like the sun shining after the rain, and everything will be alright.
However, for Chi Jingyuan, the biggest impact wasn't something that could be easily erased by a few naps or drinks. Rather, it would serve as a constant reminder, a wake-up call.
In particular, the last few words Kim Jong-hyun said to him, and those passages in his suicide note, although he wouldn't think about them all the time, might suddenly pop up when he was making some decisions, bringing about some subtle changes or reminders.
"Damp?"
Choi Sulli tilted her head, her cheeks flushed from the alcohol, her eyes hazy as if veiled in mist. She raised her hand to rub her eyes and muttered, "What do you mean? It's so obscure... I don't understand. I'm not like you who went to university."
"Really..."
She swirled the wine in her glass, the liquid leaving shallow arcs on the glass, clearly indicating that she was already a little tipsy.
After muttering a few words, Choi Sulli was too lazy to delve into it further. Her tone was a bit childish and willful: "I don't care about whether it's damp or not. I just want to get drunk and sleep like a log right now. I've been feeling really uncomfortable these past two days, really uncomfortable... I wish the weather would clear up soon."
"Hehe, that's fine too."
Seeing her frowning and looking irritable and willful, Chi Jingyuan's gloomy expression eased a little, and he couldn't help but laugh.
"Hey, I'm going to drink a little more today, and then I'll go back and get a good night's sleep. I didn't sleep much yesterday."
Choi Sulli grinned, revealing a pair of shallow dimples. She poured herself another glass, tilted her head back, and took a swig. "I'll listen to you tomorrow and go to Jonghyun oppa's memorial service... But if I go tomorrow, I'll definitely feel uncomfortable again."
"By the way, when is Jonghyun oppa's funeral?" Choi Sulli suddenly looked up and asked.
"number 21."
Chi Jingyuan replied, "Are you going?"
"I……"
Choi Sulli's hand paused. After hesitating for a long time, she gently shook her head, a hint of fear flashing in her eyes: "I think I'll pass. I really can't stand those kinds of occasions. I can't stop crying once I start, and it would definitely make me feel terrible..."
"I'm going to talk to Jonghyun oppa a bit more tomorrow, and finish what I need to say..."
She sniffed, then picked up her glass and took a sip. The wine made her cough twice. "...This should be okay, right?"
"Ah."
Chi Jingyuan nodded, no longer trying to persuade her. He simply picked up the wine bottle, poured some more wine into her glass, and filled his own glass as well. The two of them drank one glass after another in the silent night.
"By the way, how have you been lately? I haven't heard you tell me anything."
Chi Jingyuan put down his wine glass, looked at Choi Sulli's flushed cheeks, and casually asked.
"Why didn't I tell you... You've been busy filming lately. Last time I called you, you were called away by the crew after only a few words. How could I have had a chance to talk?"
Choi Sulli pouted, her tone slightly complaining: "But actually, there's not much to say. It's pretty good. I've done a few fashion magazine shoots. Thanks to that beauty ad you introduced me to last time, I've also landed a few endorsements recently. I've made a little money, hehe."
"That's great! Looks like you're making a lot of money. Are you going to treat me to dinner?"
Chi Jingyuan raised an eyebrow slightly, quite pleased to hear that.
"Of course it's not as good as yours, but it's enough... I've saved it all up, hiccup~"
Choi Sulli patted her chest, let out a hiccup reeking of alcohol, and said in a slurred but serious voice, "Didn't you tell me before that I should keep a close eye on all the money I earn? I've saved it all myself, whether it's from my manager or my family, hiccup, I haven't given any to them."
"Does that mean you can't invite me to dinner?"
Chi Jingyuan deliberately dragged out his words.
"Hmm... I kept some for myself as pocket money, I'm going out to have fun too~"
"Ha ha……"
The two looked at each other and smiled, their laughter dispelling some of the sadness that permeated the air.
"correct."
After the laughter subsided, Chi Jingyuan seemed to suddenly remember something. His tone softened, yet remained undeniably serious. He looked into Cui Xueli's eyes and said, word by word:
"Shirley, if you're feeling down, uncomfortable, or encounter any difficulties, remember to tell me. Don't... don't keep it to yourself."
Upon hearing this, Choi Sulli paused for a moment, then looked up at Chi Kyung-won, the mistiness in her eyes fading slightly, replaced by a wry smile: "What? I've been doing great lately. I take photos every day, rush through my schedule, and when I have free time, I drink and go out with them. Even if something happens, it's all minor. I'm not unhappy at all, and I'm happy every day."
"Besides, I always tell you everything, I don't keep anything to myself."
"On the contrary, it's you."
She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table, and her eyes suddenly brightened as she looked at Chi Jingyuan:
"You're the one who keeps things bottled up inside, aren't you? So I should be the one saying this to you... Kyungwon, if you're ever feeling down or encounter something you can't handle, you have to tell your best friend Choi Sulli, okay?"
Although he had drunk quite a bit, his expression was extremely serious at this moment.
"..."
Chi Jingyuan stared at her eyes, which were tinged with alcohol but incredibly serious, and paused for a moment before chuckling softly:
"Then it's settled!"
…………
"On December 19, the memorial hall for SHINE member Kim Jong-hyun was set up at Asan Medical Center in Seoul, and his friends went to pay their respects."
"On that day, the Asan Funeral Home presented an introduction to Kim Jonghyun's memorial hall, with the other members of SHINEE serving as chief mourners."
"SM Entertainment artists Kangta, BoA, TVXQ, Super Junior, Girls' Generation..."
In the dressing room of SBS TV station's Twice, an entertainment news program was playing on a wall-mounted LCD TV, the anchor's steady voice echoing in the quiet room. The screen flashed past images of solemn celebrities, each face bearing an undisguised sadness.
"EXO member Yuan also rushed back overnight and appeared at the funeral home at 4:30 pm, looking serious..."
As the anchor finished speaking, Chi Jingyuan appeared on the screen. He was wearing a long, pure black suit, and his serious expression could not hide the fatigue and heaviness in his eyes. He lowered his head slightly, put his hands in his coat pockets, and quickly walked past the camera.
When Sana Minato saw the news, she secretly understood... It seemed that Ji Jingyuan had just come from the funeral home yesterday and came to find her as soon as he heard the news.
He must be feeling very sad.
Inside the room, the other members in the lounge were quietly watching the news, and a faint sense of oppression filled the air.
"Sigh~" Several people sighed.
This is the first time they've encountered this situation in two years since their debut.
The news broadcast ended, the camera cut away, and other entertainment news began to play, and the atmosphere began to ease.
After all, the Korean Peninsula story isn't just about Kim Jong-hyun, and it's just entertainment news. No matter what, life goes on.
Sana Minatozaki sat in the corner of the sofa, repeatedly stroking her new blush gold phone in her hand, the screen lighting up and dimming repeatedly.
We clearly agreed yesterday that I would make it up to her, that I would make up for all the text messages I hadn't replied to before.
As a result, most of the day has passed and her phone has remained silent; Chi Jingyuan hasn't sent her a single text message.
Did you forget or what happened?
However, she was neither anxious nor dissatisfied; on the contrary, she was slightly worried.
Because she knew that Chi Jingyuan had gone drinking with his friends last night... and he was probably drunk again.
On the other side of the room, Chou Tzu-yu quietly observed them for a while. A few minutes later, she walked over silently, her footsteps barely touching the ground, like a ghost.
"Ernie."
Chou Tzu-yu sat down next to her, her voice soft.
Sana Minatozaki was startled, and her phone almost slipped from her hand. She turned her head and saw Tzuyu, and couldn't help but wrinkle her nose and complain, "Tzuyu, how come you walk so quietly?"
"Unnie is so focused, how could there be no sound?"
Chou Tzu-yu smiled, her eyes crinkling to reveal a pair of shallow dimples, her tone full of innocence.
Sana Minato didn't pay much attention, reached out and affectionately took her arm, rubbed her cheek against her shoulder, like a spoiled kitten.
She wanted to ask Tzuyu what was wrong, but before she could speak, Tzuyu leaned closer and asked in a low, curious voice, "Unnie, was that red phone you had yesterday custom-made by a friend? I really like that color, could you buy me one too?"
As Chou Tzu-yu spoke, she looked at Minatozaki Sana with her big, round eyes, her gaze innocent and harmless, as if she were genuinely just curious and wanted the same phone.
But only she knew that her gaze was fixed on Sana Minatozaki's face, not missing a single change in expression.
The more she thought about it yesterday, the more something seemed off; it all seemed too coincidental.
She had just heard about the blush gold-colored phone from Chi Jingyuan a few days ago, and yesterday Minatozaki Sana showed up with the same one.
Aside from Chi Jingyuan's side, she had never heard of this phone having a custom color scheme, let alone getting one.
So she's here to test the waters on purpose.
Tzuyu's keen observation skills are quite remarkable.
"..."
Sana Minato paused slightly upon hearing this, glanced at Tzuyu, and seemed to sense something, but her expression remained unchanged.
A second later, Sana Minatozaki moved closer to her and confessed with a hint of secret in her expression, "Tzuyu, let me tell you, actually, that phone was a gift from Kyungwon oppa."
Sana Minatozaki told the truth directly.
"Huh?" Chou Tzu-yu was stunned, and her inner thoughts suddenly went blank.
That's not how the script was written.
“I accidentally dropped my phone yesterday and the screen is a little cracked. I casually mentioned it to Kyungwon oppa while we were chatting, and he immediately had someone send me a new one.”
Sana Minatozaki wore a faint smile, her tone so natural it sounded like she was talking about something utterly ordinary, nine parts truth and one part falsehood:
“Momo and the others liked it yesterday, so I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to ask Jingyuan oppa for it. Ziyu, if you want it, just tell oppa. He should have some more.”
Sana Minatozaki's eyes were clear and bright, seemingly without any intention of hiding anything, and she was completely considering Tzuyu's feelings.
"Uh……"
Even Chou Tzu-yu, who prides herself on being a little cunning, was somewhat speechless at this bluntness.
More importantly, what Minatozaki Sana said made perfect sense, because she understood Chi Jingyuan's personality. If he heard that his friend's phone was broken, he would very likely take the initiative to give him a new one. That's just his personality; he doesn't care much about these things.
"If you, Tzuyu, were to ask for it, maybe Kyungwon oppa would have other colors too."
Sana Minato added with a smile, her tone tinged with a hint of envy.
"Oh, I see, unnie."
Chou Tzu-yu snapped out of her daze and could only nod somewhat slowly: "Then let me ask."
The two chatted for a while longer before Chou Tzu-yu got up and left.
She had only taken two steps when she couldn't help but turn back to look at Sana Minatozaki again.
Something feels off.
What was I trying to do just now?
After Chou Tzu-yu left, Minatozaki Sana pursed her lips, her expression natural, and looked down at her phone without any sign of anything amiss.
Just then, my phone vibrated.
Chi Jingyuan's text message arrived.
…………
Meanwhile, in the conference room on the eighth floor of the SM building.
Chi Jingyuan typed on his phone, quickly sent a few text messages, then put the phone down, muted it, and went to the meeting.
The atmosphere in the meeting room was extremely heavy. The nine members of EXO sat upright on one side of the long table, while Lee Soo-man, several representatives from SM Entertainment, and members of EXO's management team sat on the other side with serious expressions.
This meeting wasn't specifically about Kim Jong-hyun, but it was initiated because of him.
The sudden passing of Kim Jong-hyun has impacted many of SM Entertainment's original plans.
The first thing affected is EXO's comeback, which was originally scheduled for next week.
EXO has been absent from the Korean music scene for over a year, during which time they have faced scandals, deepening controversies, a long hiatus, the rise of new groups, and significant fan attrition. It is fair to say that the Korean music market has been severely impacted.
This fourth full-length album has been in preparation for a long time, and both EXO members and SM Entertainment have high hopes for it.
This album is of a very high standard, with a lot of resources invested in both music production and album configuration. It still follows the dual-track format, and the concept and style are quite innovative.
They also did a lot of pre-event promotion and groundwork, releasing a lot of materials. All members, including Ji Kyung-won, were booked for many variety shows and interviews, all in an effort to regain the popularity and market share they had lost.
The album was about to be released, but who could have predicted that Jonghyun would suddenly cause this incident?
A senior artist from the same company, who was also a close friend, suddenly passed away. Just a few days later, he released a song and made a comeback, promoting it extensively and joking and showing off in front of the camera... Regardless of the results, the impact of this alone is extremely negative, it damages his public image, and it will ruin his public persona.
Moreover, with such a major incident involving one of the company's artists, SM's top priority now is to handle the aftermath, minimize the impact, and keep a low profile.
"Therefore, the company has decided..."
Lee Soo-man adjusted his glasses, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. His tone was slightly somber as he announced, word by word:
"XO's comeback project has been temporarily postponed, all promotional plans have been suspended, and previous variety show appearances have also been temporarily canceled."